Repeated Terror Attacks on Politicians Ahead of General Election... Growing Concerns Over Copycat Crimes

Rep. Bae Hyun-jin Attacked Following Rep. Lee Jae-myung
"Cause of Political Polarization and Social Conflict Intensification"
Struggling to Devise Measures Ahead of General Election

Earlier this month, following Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party was also attacked, marking a series of political assaults ahead of the 22nd National Assembly elections. As political polarization and social conflicts deepen, concerns are rising that copycat crimes may continue to occur.

On the afternoon of the 25th, a CCTV captured the scene of Baek Hyun-jin, a member of the People Power Party, being attacked in a building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced that they had investigated middle school student A, who was arrested at the scene the previous day, in the presence of a guardian, and subsequently arranged for emergency hospitalization in the early hours of the day.

Emergency hospitalization is a system that allows a person suspected of having a mental illness to be admitted to a psychiatric medical institution for up to three days if there is an urgent risk of self-harm or harm to others. A police official stated, "Considering that the suspect is a minor and their current health condition, we will conduct a thorough investigation into the motive behind the crime and proceed with strict investigation."

Rep. Bae was attacked multiple times on the head with a stone by A around 5:18 p.m. the previous day at the entrance of a building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, collapsing while bleeding from the head. The police arrested A at the scene on charges of special assault and took him into custody. Rep. Bae was transported to Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital for emergency treatment and is currently hospitalized under observation.

According to CCTV footage released by Rep. Bae’s office and his aides, A asked Rep. Bae twice, "Are you Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party?" before striking his head with a stone. It was reported that the perpetrator said he was 15 years old and a juvenile offender under the Juvenile Act. A is known to be a student at a nearby middle school.

Earlier, on the 2nd, Lee Jae-myung was attacked in the neck with a knife by a man in his 60s named Kim during a site visit to Gadeokdo, Busan. Kim, who had been acting like a supporter near Lee, demanded an autograph and then assaulted Lee with the knife he was carrying. Lee received emergency treatment at the scene and was transported to Busan National University Hospital. After receiving emergency care from trauma specialists, he was airlifted to Seoul National University Hospital. Lee suffered damage to his internal jugular vein and underwent vascular reconstruction surgery lasting about two hours.

On the 2nd, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was stabbed in the left side of his neck after inspecting the site of Gadeok New Airport in Gangseo-gu, Busan, and is lying on the ground waiting to be transported to the hospital.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Political attacks on politicians repeatedly occur nationwide just before elections. On May 20, 2006, former President Park Geun-hye was slashed on the right cheek with an 11 cm-long cutter knife wielded by a man in his 50s named Ji in Sinchon, Seoul, ahead of the May 31 local elections, requiring suturing surgery. Also, on March 7, 2022, former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was struck on the head with a blunt object by a 70-year-old male YouTuber named Pyo during a presidential election campaign rally in Sinchon, Seoul.

Experts have warned that similar crimes may continue to occur. Oh Yoon-sung, professor of police administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "(The attack on Rep. Bae) can be seen as a copycat crime of the Lee incident. It was likely an act of petty heroism to assert one’s presence to others." He added, "Copycat crimes may increase as the election approaches. Since it is impossible to predict who will approach with what intentions, there are effectively no countermeasures."

Lee Yoon-ho, distinguished professor of police science at Korea Cyber University, said, "Political polarization and ideological conflicts are the causes. The Lee incident may have acted as a catalyst for radicalized individuals." He added, "Politicians need to interact with voters to gain votes, but strict security is impossible. The political sphere and police need to find a consensus on the appropriate level of security."